Nashville prepares to transform its downtown corridor into country music’s biggest celebration as the 52nd CMA Fest announced its star-studded lineup featuring the genre’s biggest names and emerging talents. The four-day festival, scheduled for June 5-8 in the city’s Lower Broadway district, will showcase artists representing over 200 number one country radio singles from the past quarter century.
The festival’s nightly stadium concerts, among the most anticipated events in country music, will feature headliners including Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, and Darius Rucker. These performances at Nissan Stadium anchor a broader festival experience that spans multiple venues throughout downtown Nashville, from riverfront stages to Broadway honky-tonks.
Stadium showstoppers and main stage attractions
The nightly performances at Nissan Stadium represent the premium festival experience, with lineups featuring established superstars alongside the genre’s fastest-rising talent. In addition to veteran headliners, the stadium shows will showcase newer chart-toppers including Jordan Davis, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, and viral sensation Shaboozey.
These stadium performances create defining moments for artists at various career stages. For established acts like Brooks & Dunn and Blake Shelton, the festival provides an opportunity to celebrate decades of hits with tens of thousands of fans. For newer artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Ella Langley, a stadium slot represents a significant career milestone and exposure to the genre’s most dedicated audience.
Festival organizers have announced that additional performers will join the already impressive lineup in the coming weeks, suggesting even more star power for the event that has become country music’s annual centerpiece.
Riverfront sets spotlight emerging talent
The Chevy Riverfront Stage, situated on the banks of the Cumberland River, has developed a reputation for showcasing artists at pivotal moments in their careers. The free-to-attend venue frequently hosts performers who will later appear on the main stadium stage in subsequent years, making it a destination for fans seeking tomorrow’s headliners.
The 2025 riverside lineup maintains this tradition with a mix of established and emerging artists. Award winners and chart-toppers scheduled to perform include Gabby Barrett, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Jackson Dean, Marcus King, Brandon Lake, Chris Lane, Maddie & Tae, and Megan Moroney. The eclectic roster also features country-adjacent acts like The War And Treaty, showcasing the genre’s expanding boundaries.
Additional performers at this free venue include Tanner Adell, Cooper Alan, Tyler Braden, Randall King, Kameron Marlowe, Ian Munsick, RaeLynn, Conner Smith, Alana Springsteen, and Tigirlily Gold.
The stage has become known for creating breakout festival moments, with performers often drawing massive crowds that spill beyond the designated viewing areas. MŌRIAH will perform the national anthem on Thursday morning to kick off activities at this popular venue.
Multiple stages create festival atmosphere
Beyond the main venues, CMA Fest utilizes multiple stages throughout downtown Nashville to create an immersive musical experience. The Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park will feature performances from artists spanning multiple eras of country music, including Rodney Atkins, Blanco Brown, T Graham Brown, Billy Dean, Tyler Farr, Ty Herndon, Edwin McCain, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’Neal, Sister Hazel, and Darryl Worley.
The Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park adds another dimension with performances from Craig Campbell, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dailey & Vincent, Mickey Guyton, Tiera Kennedy, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Shenandoah, Pam Tillis, and Mark Wills.
Smaller stages throughout the downtown area, including the Good Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza and the Hard Rock Stage in front of Broadway’s Hard Rock Cafe, provide platforms for developing artists and alternative country sounds. These venues feature both daytime and nighttime performances that are free and open to the public, expanding the festival’s accessibility.
The Hard Rock Stage in particular offers an eclectic mix of emerging talent, with performances scheduled from Giovannie and The Hired Guns, Trey Lewis, O.N.E The Duo, Sophia Scott, Colin Stough, and Sam Williams among dozens of others.
Ticketing options and accessibility
The festival offers various ticketing options designed to accommodate different budgets and interests. Four-night stadium passes, which are already on sale, provide access to all headlining concerts at Nissan Stadium. For those unable to commit to the full weekend, single-night stadium tickets will become available on March 28, starting at $79.80 per night.
Additional paid experiences include performances at Ascend Amphitheater, which offers three nights of concerts against Nashville’s riverfront skyline, and the Riverside Retreat VIP access package. The latter provides exclusive amenities including shaded areas, mobile charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, early entry to the Chevy Riverfront Stage, and discounted beverages.
Indoor activities center around Fan Fair X at the Music City Center, where attendees can participate in artist meet-and-greets, purchase festival merchandise, and enjoy various activities in an air-conditioned environment. Tickets for this experience are currently available.
For budget-conscious fans, the festival maintains its commitment to accessibility through numerous free outdoor stages throughout downtown Nashville. These performances, which showcase both emerging talent and established stars, require no tickets and are open to all.
With construction ongoing at the new Nissan Stadium, parking options will be limited for the 2025 festival. Standard and ADA parking options are currently available through Ticketmaster, though festival organizers encourage attendees to consider alternative transportation methods.
Charitable mission and music education focus
Beyond entertainment, CMA Fest maintains its founding commitment to charitable giving. All artists perform without compensation, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting the CMA Foundation, which supports music education programs across the United States.
This philanthropic focus has been a cornerstone of the festival since its inception, with millions of dollars directed toward music education initiatives over the decades. The foundation’s work helps ensure access to music education for students nationwide, creating opportunities for the next generation of musicians and music industry professionals.
A global country music gathering
What began in 1972 as Fan Fair has evolved into country music’s global gathering, attracting attendees from all fifty states and nearly fifty countries. The 2024 festival welcomed over 90,000 visitors to Nashville, a figure expected to be matched or exceeded in 2025.
The festival will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on ABC and stream on Hulu later in the summer. This broadcast, executive produced and written by Robert Deaton and directed by Alan Carter, extends the event’s reach beyond those physically present in Nashville.
As CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern noted after last year’s event, the festival represents a celebration of community and collaboration that brings together fans and industry professionals in a meaningful way that showcases the genre’s past, present, and future.
